On 29 December 2025 an Interoceanic passenger train partially derailed about 5 kilometres south of Nizanda in Oaxaca, killing 13 people and injuring 98, officials said. The train was carrying 250 people — nine crew and 241 passengers — on a service that runs between Salina Cruz, Oaxaca and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. Rescue teams reported difficulties reaching the site because of access challenges, and authorities have opened an investigation while emergency care continues for dozens of injured. President Claudia Sheinbaum and local officials have mobilised federal and state resources to assist victims and families.
Key takeaways
- Casualties: 13 people confirmed dead and 98 injured following the derailment on 29 December 2025, according to the Mexican Navy and local officials.
- Passengers on board: Authorities reported 250 people on the train at the time — nine crew members and 241 passengers.
- Medical status: Of those on board, 139 were reported out of danger; 36 injured were still receiving medical attention and at least five were described as in serious condition.
- Location and route: The derailment occurred roughly 5 kilometres south of Nizanda, Oaxaca, on the Interoceanic line between Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos.
- Operational context: The Interoceanic line was inaugurated in 2023 to modernise the Isthmus of Tehuantepec rail corridor and carries both passengers and freight.
- Immediate response: Mexico’s Navy, the Ministry of Interior and the Attorney General’s Office are involved; access difficulties slowed early rescue work.
Background
The Interoceanic rail project reopened and upgraded a strategic route across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in 2023 as part of a government plan to boost trade and industrial development in southeastern Mexico. The initiative, advanced under then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, aimed to create an alternative corridor to the Panama Canal by linking Pacific and Gulf ports with improved rail and port infrastructure. The line carries mixed traffic, including passenger services and freight operations intended to support new industrial zones and expanded port activity.
Safety and operational readiness on the route have been under public scrutiny since the line’s inauguration, as with any rapid infrastructure rollout across rugged terrain. On 20 December 2025, a train on the same route collided with a cargo truck attempting to cross the tracks; that incident did not result in fatalities, but it underscored local concerns about level crossings and access controls. Multiple stakeholders are involved in the corridor: federal agencies, state governments in Oaxaca and Veracruz, rail operators, and communities along the route whose transport links and emergency access vary greatly.
Main event
The derailment occurred on Sunday as the Interoceanic passenger train negotiated a curve near Nizanda, in the municipality of Asuncion Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca. Officials said one carriage came to rest on its side and another became detached from the tracks; video shared on social media and by local outlets showed passengers trapped in derailed carriages. Emergency crews assembled near the site, but responders reported difficulty reaching the exact location because of poor road access and the remote nature of the terrain.
Federal forces, including personnel from the Mexican Navy, were dispatched to support rescue and medical evacuations, and the Ministry of Interior coordinated the overall response. President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had instructed senior naval and government officials to travel to the scene and to support families affected by the accident. Local media quoted passengers describing the train as moving quickly before the derailment and raising questions about a possible brake failure, comments that authorities said would be reviewed during the investigation.
The Attorney General’s Office announced it had opened an investigation to determine the cause and whether operational or maintenance failures contributed. Medical units treated injured passengers at facilities in nearby towns and cities, while many less-critical victims were reported as out of danger. Authorities have not released a final technical assessment of track condition, signalling or vehicle maintenance at the time of the accident.
Analysis & implications
The immediate tragedy raises urgent questions about operational safety on a high-profile infrastructure project that mixes passenger and freight traffic. Investigators will examine train speed, braking systems, track maintenance records, crew training and any possible infrastructure faults at the curve south of Nizanda. A technical probe by the Attorney General’s Office and parallel administrative reviews by transport and safety agencies are likely to follow, and their findings will shape whether service suspensions or design changes occur.
Politically, the derailment places pressure on federal and state leaders who promoted the Interoceanic corridor as an economic lift for the region. The project has strategic economic aims — attracting industry, increasing port volumes and creating an overland trade alternative to the Panama Canal — and any prolonged service disruption could delay those objectives and raise costs for private and public investors. Public confidence in safety standards could also be eroded, affecting ridership and local acceptance of future industrial projects tied to the corridor.
Economically, the line’s mixed-use design means that service interruptions have both passenger mobility and freight flow consequences. A stoppage or reduced capacity could affect logistics chains between Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos and slow planned industrial activity around rail-linked sites. International partners and shipping customers monitoring the corridor for reliability may reassess timelines for shifting cargo flows if safety and operational assurances are not quickly established.
Comparison & data
| Date | Event | Fatalities | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 2025 | Interoceanic passenger train derailment near Nizanda | 13 | 98 |
| 20 Dec 2025 | Train collided with cargo truck on same route | 0 | Not reported |
The table places the derailment in immediate context with a prior collision on the same corridor earlier in December. While the earlier incident did not cause fatalities, repeated safety events on a recently inaugurated line amplify scrutiny from regulators, communities and commercial partners. Investigators will likely compare maintenance logs, incident reports and crew rosters across events to identify systemic issues rather than treating occurrences as isolated.
Reactions & quotes
Officials and local leaders issued prompt public responses while investigations and rescue efforts continued.
“Unfortunately, 13 people lost their lives,”
Mexican Navy statement
The Navy released casualty figures and described its role in on-scene assistance. That brief statement was part of initial public information while authorities coordinated medical evacuations and search operations.
“At least five people are in serious condition,”
President Claudia Sheinbaum on X
The president said she had ordered senior navy and government officials to travel to the area and to provide support to victims’ families. Her post also placed the Ministry of Interior at the centre of the response effort.
“It was coming very fast. We don’t know if it lost its brakes,”
Passenger quoted by La Razon
Passengers’ accounts describing speed and possible mechanical failure are being collected but remain preliminary. Eyewitness statements will be cross-checked with black box data, crew testimony and technical inspections during the official investigation.
Unconfirmed
- Whether brake failure or excessive speed caused the derailment has not been confirmed; official technical findings are pending.
- The full extent of infrastructure damage to tracks and signalling at the curve south of Nizanda is not yet publicly available.
Bottom line
The derailment of an Interoceanic passenger train near Nizanda on 29 December 2025 is a human tragedy that also raises immediate operational and political questions about a flagship transport project. With 13 dead and 98 injured, authorities face pressure to deliver a transparent, technical investigation and to implement corrective measures to restore safety and public confidence.
Beyond the short term, findings from the probe will shape how the Interoceanic corridor operates and how quickly it can resume full service for passengers and freight. Stakeholders — from local communities and state governments to national planners and international trade partners — will watch whether reforms address maintenance, access control and emergency response gaps that this incident has exposed.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — International news outlet reporting on the incident
- Mexican Navy — Official government agency statements and coordination
- Attorney General’s Office (FGR) — Official government agency, investigative announcement